Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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Hamont Grill Redesign by AMANDA JENKINS Established in 1946, the Hamont Grill and Steakhouse, is not only Fayetteville's oldest family-owned restaurant to stay in the same location, but it has also been a prominent business that has attracted people from all over the world. "There's not a politician in North Carolina or the United States that has come to Fayetteville without visiting here. Generals, presidents, congressmen, you name it," says Pete Skenteris, former owner of the restaurant. Skenteris was the owner of the Hamont Grill and Steakhouse for 55 years and has recently turned over the business to his two sons, Dino and Jimmy. "I'm supposed to be retired, but I'm still here," says Skenteris, who comes in on Tuesday and Saturday mornings to help out at the restaurant. Skenteris spent his younger years in Greece and moved to Fayetteville in 1951, when he was just 10 years old. "When I came from Greece as a young kid, we had to work to survive. We didn't speak much English; we didn't know much of anything. So while I was going to school I started working in a kitchen washing dishes," says Skenteris. When he fi nished high school in 1956 he went over to a tiny restaurant that was formerly known as Steve's Grill to work full time. Steve and Skenteris became partners of Steve's Grill in 1960 and when Steve died in 1967, Skenteris bought the building with the intention of expanding the restaurant. "There were fi ve businesses in the building," says Skenteris, "Part of it was the restaurant, part of it was First Citizens Bank, part of it was the Haymont Shoe Shop, my kitchen was Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, and the front part of it was the Haymount Barber Shop." After purchasing the building, Skenteris told the other four businesses Harvest Train a STAFF REPORT Falcon Children's Home has dedicated more than 100 years to helping kids. In fact, the majority of their charges are from Cumberland County. Caring for children can be an overwhelming and exhausting task. Providing for numerous children, who come from diffi cult circumstances is another business entirely. The logistics, resources and energy required all multiply — never mind the emotional investment, determination and compassion that goes into it. Even in the best of times, it can be tough making ends meet, but that's not anything new. Harvest Train is a 62-year-old tradition that provides the community with an opportunity to make a difference in kids lives by fi lling in the gaps and meeting the needs of the children who reside there by donating things like school supplies, toiletries and cleaning products. This year, Harvest Train is scheduled for Harvest Train is a tradition that reaches back to the 1940s when Falcon Children's Home was struggling to make ends meet. The local women's ministry groups from several churches started the "Santa Clause Train." The churches rallied and collected items and raised money throughout the year. When it came time for the parade, they met up in Dunn and would make a caravan and drive down I-95 to the Falcon exit. Children from the home watched and waited for the caravan to drive down the streets of Falcon. People in the parade would throw candy to the kids and made the entire event quite festive. After the parade, the children would perform in the auditorium as a way to say thank-you to their benefactors. Some of Falcon Children's Home's earliest charges. Tuesday, Nov. 22 in the town of Falcon. It starts with a parade at 8:30 a.m. and ends with a program titled A Place Called There at the J.A. Culbreth Memorial Auditorium at 10:30 a.m. Lunch will be served on campus immediately following the program. WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM The parade doesn't start in Dunn anymore, but the parade is something the children look forward to with great anticipation and the supplies are still very much appreciated by the students and the staff. If you can't make it to the event but would still like to help or make a donation, visit www.falconchildrenshome.com or give them a call at 980-1065. NOVEMBER 16-22, 2011 UCW 11 that they had to move out. The First Citizens Bank moved two blocks down, the barber shop moved across the street, and the shoe shop moved to Raeford Road. "So they all stayed close by," says Skenteris. After expanding, renaming and running the restaurant for 55 years, Skenteris decided to retire and hand the business over to his sons. "When I retired I told them if they want the place they can have it or I'd sublease it," says Skenteris, "they said they wanted it. They are staying here. I told them they have to take care of the business and take care of the customers like I have been doing for 50 years, and they're doing a good job…they're doing well." Jimmy Skenteris, Pete's son and present owner of the restaurant, says that business has been good considering the economy. "I'm enjoying it," says Jimmy, "I remember being 5 years old running around the restaurant. I've always liked the restaurant business." While the Hamont Grill and Steakhouse is under new management, it has also recently had the interior renovated in order to accommodate customers and keep it up to date. "Of course this place has been here since 1946, and we have to bring it up-to-date so we put in new booths, new tables, new fl oors, new ceilings, new fans and handicapped bathrooms," says Skenteris, "As we're getting older a lot of my friends and customers who have been eating with me for the past 50-60 years are having problems getting around and a lot of them have walkers and wheelchairs. It was time to bring it up to date to help our customers and our business." AMANDA JENKINS, Contributing Writer. COMMENTS? Stephanie@ upandcomingweekly.com